DEC. A 
! itoarjj HttstfUaitji. 
THANKSGIVING. 
EDGERTON, 
We'll offer up. in terms sincere, 
And free from all alloy, 
The thankii we owe to Him who (fives 
The blessings we enjoy— 
The seed-time of another year, 
And harvest of abundant cheer. 
No epidemics scourge the land, 
No pestilence, or war, 
With gospel light and liberty, 
We’re blessed beyond compare, 
Then let ns offer thanks sincere 
For blessings of another year. 
INMATES OF LESTER HALL. 
(Continued from page 790.) 
Lawrence Carewe hesitated a moment. Looking 
down at the fair, childish face, he saw the shadow 
of pain in the sweet hazel eyes, the little flrmly- 
closed mouth, and he wondered whether It were 
possible that this young girl felt the pang of un¬ 
requited love which had once stabbed his own 
heart. 
•• Do yon think he loves her very much ?” repeat¬ 
ed Lottie Tyrrell, with a piteous prayer for a neg¬ 
ative answer In her hazel eyes. 
” I am sure so," Dr. Carewe answered, firmly— 
cutting deep. Ilka a skillful surgeon; and although 
he saw the Hhlver which ran through the slight 
figure, he made no further remark, but began talk¬ 
ing to her of different subjects, in his pleasant, 
cheery manner, and let her emotion pass over un¬ 
noticed : puttl ng her so completely at her ease that 
In a few minutes, when Ernest came up with a 
smile and outstretched hand to greet her, calling 
her hla little playfellow, she was able to reply 
in the same playiul tone; and even when he said 
how pleased he was to see her then, as he wanted 
her to know Cecil, she said calmly she was very 
glad also. 
Poor little Lottie! It was very hard, although the 
story Is a common one enough. 
Ernest Kleston had been visiting at. her father’s 
some months previously, aud he had taken a fancy 
to the pretty hazel-eyed little damsel, and had 
treated her to a kind of elder-brotherly kindness, 
which she had mistaken tor a warmer feeling and 
cherished In her heart, until lierown liking for him 
had deepened Into love. Fortunately ho was very 
young, and at an age when such wounds are soon 
healed; but she felt It keenly now, and there was 
, a touching heroism tn the calmly-cordlal manner, 
which Dr. carewe saw and admired. 
Meanwhile In her own rooms, having replaced 
her traveling attire by a warm dressing-robe, 
Cecil had dismissed her maid and was sitting over 
her fire with a hot blush burning on her fair face 
and a feverish light In her lustrous brown eyes, 
while her fingers—on one or which gleamed Er¬ 
nest’s beautiful diamonds—were locked tightly to¬ 
gether. 
The sight of Dr. Carewe had been unexpected, 
and the sudden tide of Joy which had over¬ 
whelmed her when she caught the sound of hla 
rich, deep voice had startled and bewildered her; 
but It. had soon ebbed in the strange, stinging 
agony which followed, when she had met the 
cold glance of the gray eyes which once had looked 
upon her so tenderly, and felt the cold, touch 
of hlB hand as It met hers. 
Hitting there In the warm, luxurious chamber, 
before the scented wood-fire on the hearth, Cecil 
Lester shuddered through all her limbs at the 
recollection of that look and that, touch; but 
the next moment sbe threw back her head 
proudly, and her eyes flashed with a sudden 
light. It was thus, then, he meant to treat her—to 
treat Cecil Lester, tue petted, idolized beauty who 
reigned supreme wherever she went. How dared 
he ? He! the man who had trembled at ber touch 
—who had prayed for her love—who had bowed 
himself to the very earth before her—who had 
prayed to her to have pity 1 He to scorn her—he I 
But the next moment Cecil’s proud head sank, 
her eyes filled with slow, salt tears, and her lips 
quivered. The pride was hut shortlived; the re¬ 
vulsion of feeling followed immediately. He had 
loved her, and she had wronged him. Was It not 
right that he should despise her ? Had she not 
earned hlB contempt? How infinitely beneath 
him she was! Ah, If she could but win him to 
t.hinir more kindly or her—to give her a fuller par¬ 
don than he had gtven her yet—perhaps In time 
he might give ber back the love she had forfeited; 
he might— 
Cecil Btarted up shivering In every limb, 
and pressing her hands to her heart as If she 
wished to check Its furious throbbing. How dared 
she letsucb thoughts as these enter her heart? 
she, the betrothed of another—she, whose alle¬ 
giance, whose loyalty, whose affection, were all 
the possessions of another, whose wile she would 
be. If she lived, tn a few months I If she lived, and 
she was young and healthy and strong—she was 
not likely to die. Bhe thought bitterly, Oh, If by 
some fortunate reading of her destiny; it were 
to come to pass that she should have con¬ 
sumption and die, as girls young and strong and 
beautiful as Bhe had done, would he be a little 
sorry—would he care ? 
Poor Cedi, she was almost desperate as she 
paced up and down her room with restless, eager 
steps, and without Intermission. If any of those 
to whom she had accounted for her pallor by the 
plea of fatigue had Been her then, they would have 
disbelieved that plea entirely. There were no 
traces of fatigue In the fierce energy and passion 
of every movement, until at length her strength 
failed her, and she sank down In her chair faint 
and exhausted, her mind in a tumult, her brain 
In a whirl. She had no Idea of being faithless to 
Kruest, she had accepted him freely as;her lover t 
she had promised to marry him; and although 
she had told him that she had not given him 
measure for measure In love, she meant to be a 
good wife, and make blm bappy If she could. But 
when she bad done so, she had not faced the pos¬ 
sibility of Lawrence carewe’s being exonerated 
from all share In her brother’s downfall. 8he had 
owned to herself that she loved him, but she had 
resolved to crush that affection as unworthy of 
her, aud as a means to that end she had accepted 
Ernest; and when the doctor’s Innocence had been 
proved—when she had known that the man whom 
she had so cruelly injured was the man who had 
tried to help her brother, and alleviate the misery 
of his last days of suffering—she had written and 
asked his pardon ; she had ti led to force herself 
to believe that she had no love for him now, but 
she had not anticipated 3uch an ordeal its his 
presence in the house with her. 
She had met him at Mattie’s wedding, but her 
manner had been cold and stately as his own. 
Then she had thought herself justified, now she 
knew that she had erred grievously, and she had 
no courage to face the torture of his cold words 
and frigid looks. How should she bear It? 
Fortunately, she was too proud to show how she 
suffered, and by the time Lisette came to com¬ 
mence tbo task of dressing for dinner her mistress 
was quite herself again. 
“Mademoiselle 19 looking her best to-night,” 
says the Frenchwoman, well pleased as she sur¬ 
veyed the fruits of her labor when' Cecil was 
dressed: “ I aw glad, as It Is always well to make 
a good Impression at. first.” 
“ But l know almost every one here," said Cecil, 
rather languidly. 
“ But there are many young ladles here whom 
mademoiselle does not know,” said Lisette, 
straightening a fold or the long black velvet robe, 
cut In a straight, old-world fashion, which Cecil 
wore. 
“ And they are all so anxious to see mademoi¬ 
selle.” 
" Indeed!” and Cecil laughed her slight, languid 
laugu, and passed out of the room, looking so won- 
drously lovely in her black velvet and pearls, that 
It was no wonder that little Lottie TyrTel, who was 
sltttng by Dr. Carewe In the drawing-room as she 
entered, drew a long breath of admiration and 
surprise, and said, half to herself and half to the 
man at her side: 
“ How beautiful she Is—how beautiful! No 
wonder that he loves her!” 
“ No wonder,” said Lawrence Carewe. 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. 
Mrs. Brayburn'a at Christmas time was, as I 
have said, a very pleasant, place to visit at; and 
when 1 said so I spoke advisedly. Not only was it 
pleasant for her guests, but for the little folk In 
the nursery and 6ohool-room. whose holiday-time 
It was and who had every enjoyment suited to 
their ages and capabilities of being amused, but 
the grand event foi the little people In the neigh¬ 
borhood was the children’s party, which took 
place on Christmas eve, and possessed the addition¬ 
al attractions of snapdragon, blind man’s buff and 
charades, in which amusements everyone, old and 
young, was expected to take part, it was almost 
Impossible to feel depressed or low.sylrlted in such 
a cheerful atmosphere; ana even l)r. Carewe 
threw aside the gravity habitual to him lately, 
and entered into the fun, submitting to be blind- 
folded wltb very good grace. 
“ Now, children, you must he very careful," said 
Lottie Tyrrell, who was queen of the revels, and 
looking very pretty aud very childish for her sev¬ 
enteen years In her pretty velvet dress and her 
bright hair showering down over her shoulders. 
“Dr. Carewe has very long arms, and he will be 
sure to catch some one soon." 
“He shall not catch me." 
“Nor me.” 
"Nor me," shouted the gay, little voices, as the 
children rushed helter-skelter across the hall, 
while their elders contented themselves with find¬ 
ing places of security In corners and behind pieces 
of furniture, while the blind man groped his way 
about and uttered threats of vengeance against 
the captured one. 
“Whoever I catch 1 shall kiss,” he said, fero¬ 
ciously. as he made a dive at Lottie, who slipped 
by him with the most adroit agility, and almost 
ran Into Mr. Eleston’s arms. 
“Did you hear that frightful threat, Lottte?" be 
whispered, gaily, “ it he Is allowed to carry It 
out, I shall be blindfolded next time and I shall 
catch you." 
The girl’s fair face flushed and paled alternately 
as she laughed and turned away. 
At this moment Cecil appeared at the top of the 
marble Btalrcase, and came Blowly down, smiling 
lo herself at the gay shouts which proceeded from 
the happy children. As she came she was fasten¬ 
ing in her belt a sprig of flowers, and, absorbed In 
the occupation, she did not lift her eyes until, as 
she entered the hall, she walked straight Into the 
blind man s arms, and he held her firmly , but 
gently, with one band. 
“Fairly caught," said Mr. Brayburn, laughing. 
“But he must guess who It is, papa," said one of 
the children, gleefully; “ and Dr. Carewe says he 
will kiss whoever he has caught.” 
“But I will not carry out my threat by compul¬ 
sion,” said the blind man, gaily, as he passed hla 
hand gently over Cecil’s sleeve as she stood sinn¬ 
ing, but very pale, In his grasp. Still, yon know It 
is Christmas-time, and we are under the mistle¬ 
toe.” 
“Not quite,”laughed Mrs. Brayburn, “Come, 
doctor, guess what fair lady you have there, and 
if you guess rightly you shall talk about your re¬ 
ward afterwards. 1 
'• I know who It Is," said the doctor, bending his 
tall head over Cecil, with a very kind smile. “ I 
think I meant to catch her—stoned with the de¬ 
liberate Intention of doing so. Shall I have my 
reward, Miss Tyrrell?" he added, as he removed 
the handkerchief from his eyes, and saw.that he 
held—not Lottie Tyrrell, as he had Imagined—but 
Cecil Lester. 
There was a momentary silence as their eyes 
met; then the children’s gay laughter rang forth, 
and Dr. Carewe removed his hand from Cecil’s 
wrist, bowing low. 
“ I beg your pardon,” be said, gravely and *oldly. 
And Cecil turned haughtily away, and crossing 
the hall, sat down la a low window-seat, with a 
flush of wounded pain still on her face. 
“ Yoar threat—your threat! You must keep your 
threat, and take your vengeance, Dr. Carewe 1” 
said hair a dozen children, as they danced about 
him, shrieking with laughter. 
But Mrs. Brayburn hastily Interposed. 
“ Dr. Carewe is too generous to take vengeance 
on a lady,” she said, gaily. 
And as she spoke, Lawrence Carewe almost In¬ 
voluntarily looked over at Cecil; and as their eyes 
met, there was the same entreaty in hers, the same 
contempt In hl3. 
•’ Wbo’8 the next victim?” said Lawrence, coolly. 
“Shall I sacrifice myself again?” 
“I will relieve you, doctor, If you will allow me,” 
said Ernest, coming forward with hla usual easy 
grace. “ I am afraid I shall not prove such a gen¬ 
erous victor as you have done.” 
ho saying, he submitted tobebllndrolded and led 
Into the middle of the hall, where he proved the 
truth of bis prophecy by catching Lottie Tyrrell, 
and holding her triumphantly under the mistletoe. 
“Now, Miss Lottie,”he said, smiling Into the 
hazel eyes which drooped beneath his glance, 
“ have you anything to say against my taking my 
revenge? Have you, Lottie?" he added In a lower 
voice, bending down. 
And the girl grew very pale as she lifted her eyes 
to Ills. 
“ Please do not,” she said, tremulously. 
And something in her voice and look struck 
him, and made him, as he loosed her, turn away 
with a sudden gravity on his own face. 
There was no more bllndoian’s buff that after¬ 
noon, for the dusk was gathering thickly in the 
hall, and the servants had entered to prepare the 
room tor snapdragon. 
Ernest went over to Cecil’s side and sat dow a 
wltn her in the window seat, but both were silent- 
and abstracted, The elders of the party had 
settled themselves comfortably around the fire. 
Lottie Tyrrell and Dr. Carewe were standing 
together. The girl's face was flushed and down¬ 
cast, her companion’s pale and stern, and neither 
seemed Inclined to talk; hut Lottie’s hand was 
slipped confidingly through his arm, and his 
fingers were closed over it. Evidently pretty 
Lottie and the doctor were great, tfiends. 
By-and-by. when the hail was sufficiently dark, 
the servants brought In the great dish of burning 
raisins, and the little folks clustered round the 
table with merry shrieks of laughter and dives for 
raisins, and Cecil leaned her head wearily against 
the window-frame, aud wondered why the pain 
at her heart was so strong, and why she felt so 
unkindly rowarda pretty, hazel-eyed Lottie Tyr¬ 
rell. 
“ You are tired,” said Ernest, gently, bending 
over Cecil. 
" I think t am always tired now 1" she answered, 
wearily, as she rose and Joined the group round 
the fire, entering into the discussion with appar¬ 
ent animation ; although Ernest, watchlug her, 
thought ihat her eyes were sadder than he had 
ever seen them, and he sighed at the thought that 
with all his love, he could not, give happiness to 
this beautiful, brilliant woman who had promised 
to he his wife.—To be continued. 
- ■ ■ ■ 4 »» ■ ■ — 
GLEANINGS. 
A Yankee says that “the man who thinks Poe 
the greatest American poet must be raveu mad." 
Connecticut Y ankees are making oil barrels out 
of paper, and the same material will be used for 
tobacco and sugar barrels. 
“ Landlady,” said he, “ the coffee isn’t settled." 
•* No,” she replied, “ but it comes as near to it as 
your Last month’s board bill does;” and that man 
never spoke again during the meal. 
Ma. Moody's sermons have been translated into 
Arabic. Protestant missionaries In Syria read 
extracts from them every Sunday evening to their 
converts. 
The aim of education should be rather to teach 
us how to think than what to think—rather to 
Improve our minds so as to enable us to think for 
ourselves than to load the memory with the 
thoughts of other men.—Beattie. 
All the Nihilists tried for plotting against the 
life of the Czar of Russia, have been found guilty. 
Five of them have been sentenced to death and 
eleven to hard labor in the mines, their terms of 
punishment ranging from life to fifty years. Three 
women were sentenced to fifteen years penal ser¬ 
vitude. 
Postmaster General Maynard has directed that 
all magazines, pamphlets and other Uke reading 
matter received at the dead letter office shall here¬ 
after, instead of being sold for waste paper, be 
distributed to charitable and reformatory Institu¬ 
tions In and around Washington. 
A young lady in the country whose beauty 
formed a matter of general admiration and dis¬ 
cussion. in passing a group of officers on the 
street, heard one of them exclaim as follows: 
“By heaven, she’s painted.” “Yes, sir, and by 
heaven only,” she quickly replied. The officer 
acknowledged the full force of the remark and 
apologized. 
A Glimpse of Rem enyi.— When Remenyl touch¬ 
ed his violin fondly with the bow it reminded one 
of a little spring starting out of a nutshell and 
tripping with sounding footsteps towards the sea. 
The birds wake up overhead, and come fluttering 
down to trail thetr shining wings In the sparkling 
water, twittering all the while. The stream 
widened, and, like a ribbon of gold, went„flashlng 
through meadows green, past farm-houses.whero 
farmers’ girls were singing.—Toronto World. 
Among the improvements at the White House, 
Washington, which have been In progress during 
the absence of the President and Mrs. Hayes on 
the Pacific coast, much praised. Is a flooring of 
encaustic tiles In the large vestibule, into which 
the main or north entrance opens. This tiled 
pavement is described as a wholesome relief from 
a much-soiled and green carpet which did duty 
there for many years. 
The New York Times says: “Gen. Grant has 
rented the residence of ex-Unlted Slates Senator 
Jerome B. Chaffee, on Fifty-second Street, and 
will hereafter make his home there. Mr. and Mrs. 
IJ. S. Grant, Jr., will also reside at the same place. 
Ex-Senator Chaffee has taken up his abode at the 
Union League Club. Mr. and Mrs. U. 8. Grant, 
Jr., will (Jepart for the West In a few days, Intend¬ 
ing to visit Santa Fe, New Mexico, before their re¬ 
turn to New York. 
BRIC-A-BSAC. 
Authors are spoken of as dwelling In attics, be¬ 
cause so few of them are able to live on their firs t 
story. _ 
PHILOSOPHY. 
What is a tear but water; 
What is a High but air! 
We live to-rtay, we die to-morrow. 
Why should a mortal care? 
—Steubenville Heral d. 
Mr. Bergh Is appealed to for the relief of ani¬ 
mal suffering. The potato bug3 In the Far West 
are freezing to death.—Boston Globe. 
A Jersey, like a coat of mail. 
The shapely form incases. 
And to a dainty waist can’t fall 
To add developed graces; 
To draw it on requires a knack 
Quite easy to attain. 
But- what a business ’tis, good lack, 
To get it off again ! 
“ Is there a letter here In a scented envelope for 
my wife?” he asked the postmaster, while the 
green fire from his eyes made the office look llice a 
leafy forest. ** Yes, sir.” answered the postmaster, 
as he handed it out. The Jealous man core it open 
at once, when, lo and behold 1 it was the milliner’s 
bill for one hundred dollars. The end. 
Apropos to the discussion of sense-perception : 
The pharynx uow goes up 
The larynx with a slam 
Ejecta a note 
From out the throat 
Pushed by the Diaphragm.” 
—Yale Becord. 
The Paris Figaro tells a story which Sara Bern¬ 
hardt tells on herself. When playing in “ Ruy 
Bias,” at the Odeou Theater, a fellow threw a loaf 
of bread at her from the peanut gallery with the 
remark that he hoped she’d eat It and get a little 
fatter. The story now circulating about her Is 
chat au empty cab drove up to the stage door of 
Booth’s Theatre and Sara Bernhardt got out. 
A maid, as by court records doth appear. 
Whom (iSu.iKiu made soidear, 
C nto her waiting lover sternly said 
” Forego the weed before we go to wed. 
For smoke tak« flame . Til be that flames bright fanner 
To have your Anna, give up your Havana.” 
The wretch, when thus she brought him to the scratch 
Lit his cigar ami threw away the match. 
WITHOUT AN E. 
It is well known that the letter " e ” is used 
more than any other letter In the English alpha¬ 
bet. Each of the following verses coutains every 
letter of the alphabet except the letter “ e 
A Jovial swain should not complain 
Of any buxom fair 
Who mocks his pain and thinks it gain 
To quiz his awkward air. 
Quixotic boy-i who look for Joys, 
Quixotic hazards run; 
A lass annoys with trivial toys. 
Opposing man for fun. 
A Jovial swain may rack his brain 
And tax his fancy’s might; 
To quiz is vain, for 'tis most plain 
That what I say is right. 
EASILY EXPLAINED. 
Gilhooly got come up with yesterday. He had 
bought a barrel of apples from De Smith’s grocery, 
which did not give satisfaction. 
“ What’s the reason,” said Gilhooly indignantly, 
“ that the further down I go In the apples the 
worse they get v” 
“ The reason for that is that you didn’t open the 
barrel at the other end. If you had only done 
that the apples would be getting better all the 
time.—Galveston News. 
A chicken lived; a chicken died; 
His drumsticks and his wings were fried, 
His feathers by a dealer dried, 
And, very shortly after, dyed. 
Soul be had none; admitting that, 
How comes it* There upon her hat. 
His plumes—a mortfi chicken’s—rise 
A glorious bird of paradise. 
The Chairman of the Committee on Astronomy 
heaved a deep sigh and reported as follows : “ Dla 
committee am well awar’ of de rak dac a comet 
has recently bln disklvered about 60, 000,000 miles 
on de road to Heaben. an’ dat It am now supposed 
to be approacbln’ de y’arch at. a rapid rate, but de 
committee sees no spesbul occashun to get ex¬ 
cited. It will be a month or so before said 
comet can git here, an’ de chances am dat de 
’arth will mash It at de fust bump. Dls committee 
advises de members of de club to gtt dar’ butes 
tapped, dar’ overcoats patched and dar’ wood 
hauled up fur Winter, an’ let de comet blzness 
take keer 0 ’ itself,”—Free Press. 
A couple of old darkles met the other day, ana 
began talking over matters and things. “ How is 
